Gottes-Haus.de: On the Folly of the Unworthy

On the Folly of the Unworthy

Once upon a time, not so long ago, there was a king who was well known and beloved for his great kindness. This honorable ruler wanted to invite his nobles, dignitaries, and prominent figures to a grand banquet. It was to be a wedding celebration—a truly magnificent wedding celebration for his son. He wanted to invite many people: the wise, the noble, and those whom others looked up to. Full of anticipation, he sent his messengers to them.

But he soon realized that the guests he had planned to invite were not worthy of it. They were restless and busy, and so consumed by work and appointments that they did not want to come. The party was not worth the trouble of making the trip to them.

So the king pondered who might be worthy of an invitation to his grand banquet. And he realized that no one among all his people was worthy. No one!

The king, full of generosity, magnanimity, and love, now invited other people. They were not worthy of the invitation—but they were people who knew this. It was a wretched crowd that the messengers brought together: the maimed, the blind, the lame, the deaf, the crippled, the outcasts, the dregs—physically and mentally lame, blind, and deaf. Sick in mind and sick at heart.

However, many of those whom the king had invited did not want to come either. They considered the offer to be a sham, a fraud, a white lie, nonsense, or simply laughable. And they, too, made no effort to set out on the journey.

Some of those who had been invited but were unworthy did come. They were clothed in new white robes, washed, cleansed, and led into a magnificent hall, where they were allowed to wait for the bridegroom’s arrival. The new arrivals stood in silent wonder and happiness, moved by all the beauty that surrounded them and the joy that filled them—the joy of waiting for the great celebration.

But soon some of those who had been waiting for quite some time began to whisper and confer with one another. They wondered what the groom would be like, what the king would be like, what the celebration would be like, and who else might join them in waiting.

And there was a murmur and a buzz of conversation.

Suddenly, someone spotted a newcomer. His face was disfigured, ugly, and scarred—including on his neck, hands, and feet—and people cried out, “What is this one doing here?” “He has a disease!” “Who invited him?” “The king doesn’t want people like that; he only wants us as his guests!”

And a big argument broke out.

The blind joined forces with the lame, the deaf, and those of simple minds, and some claimed that only their group was among those truly invited, while the others had sneaked in and would never be allowed into the feast.

The doves mocked the blind people, asking what they were doing there—after all, they couldn't even enjoy the splendor of the feast! The blind people shouted back, asking what the doves were doing there—after all, they couldn't even hear the bridegroom's voice!

And discord arose among those who—though unworthy—had been invited.
There was shouting and bickering and mockery, and there was much condemnation and judgment among the unworthy.

There were some who looked only at the waiting room and didn't even think about the actual celebration. They examined it in every detail, and some even said that this was the banquet hall and that there was no other.

And there were some who argued about how long it would still take before the door to the ballroom would open, and they came up with all sorts of calculations.

And there was so much quarreling, discord, and strife that some who had wanted to come to the feast were even afraid to enter the hall. And some who had come to the feast full of anticipation were so startled by the bickering that they left, saddened. Repelled and disappointed by those who were already waiting. They left, yet with longing in their hearts.

There were plenty of comments like, “He doesn’t belong here!” or “The king didn’t invite him!” or “The king doesn’t want people like that!” or “What he’s doing isn’t right in the king’s eyes!”

And only a few looked forward to the celebration with gratitude in their hearts and praise on their lips.

- - -

And suddenly, unexpectedly—shockingly unexpectedly—no one knew how it happened—the door opened and the groom was there. All of a sudden, he was there!

And there was silence.

The shouting and bickering, the accusations and taunts, the mockery and contempt all fell silent.
The bridegroom said, "Come! Come to the feast!"

And all the unworthy ones, who had just been busy pointing out the unworthiness of others, were put to shame when they saw the glory of the Bridegroom and the banquet hall opened before them.

All eyes were fixed on Him.

And the unworthy began to rejoice . . . and rejoice . . . and rejoice . . . forever and ever!

Who are you to judge another’s servant? He stands or falls before his master. But he will stand, for the Lord is able to keep him standing. So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God!
Romans 14:4, 12

Supplementary Bible Passages